Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-21
MIR. JENIFER'S INHERITANCE,


ing the fact lay before him, beside the
breakfast which he had forgotten in the
thought of this unexpected good fortune.
It was not a meager breakfast, although
Mr.. Jenifer at five and forty was still only
a curate on stipend of $50 per annum.
for though the greater part of his twenty
years in holy orders he had acted on the
principle that if he gave his time to the
Door it was as much as they
could expect; and SO if they called ParsoR
j onifer hard and close, and preferred
going to the Vicar-why, that was not
his fault.
His inheritance consisted In a good
house and several hEndreds year, and
he sat and thought over the difference
this would make in his future. No 1aore
for him the daily service, read as part
of the days work-no more visiting of
thriftless, complaining muddling poor,
with whom he was pletely cat of
'touch-in a word no more drudgery!
Twenty years of drudgeryl That was
what his life amounted to. Not for hiEa
the spirit of love that softens and the
high thoughts that sanctify daily tasks;
only the grudging gift of obligatory toll.
1t was written on his face, IN lines mark
ed by twenty years-no, not quite twenty
he had thought differently at first-5ut
by more than q dozen years of discomfort
and repining. 1t was pity, too, for the
face was one of great possibilities, cloud
ed over by dizziness of heart that fails to
see through the service the Master who is
served.
Even now, he had nc regret for the kind
old friend who had left him a goodly
share of his property, no thought that
L.. 4 - l. 10
help him and many another, was helpless
now henceforth, no spirit of gratitude
for his last loving gift; oaly a selfish
pleasure in his own good lUck, .ane a feel
ing of discomfort that it had been so long
in coming. And thus thinking, he rose
and went to see his vicar to make,arrange-
ments for the visit to the lawyer, which
must preeede his taking possession of his
new inheritance.
He found 40 difficulty in obtaining
leave of absence for the purpose. The
vicar was kind and opea-hearted man,
and pleased at his c1rate's unexpected
prosperity
"WelI, J enifer," he said, 81 am very
glad for you, though you n't-appreciate
1T as much as if you had s wife end family
dependent on you. All the same you
have my hearty congratulations"
"Ah," sail Mr.. Jenifer, "things general
ly come too late. Snow If this had hap
pened when I was ten years younger
what Offence it woUld have made tie
mer'
"But your friends life was very val
liable one to many, was it not?" SAID the
vicar. "From all L have heard of him i
should think that even row there will he
plenty Of people to say that the end hes
come ten years too soon, rather than toe
late"
"Why, he was nearly 9e,'' said Jenifer,
as if the fact were rather a reproach te
the old man. Then he fastened away to
make preparations for leaving.
The wears wife came III as the curate
went Out. She found her husband gazing
rather sadly Into the dull street.
"Mary, my dear" he said, it is my be-.
lief that after the miracle of the loaves,
and fishes there were some among the.
5000 who com planned that the bread was
stale and the fl sh not so fresh as 1t might
have beeh."
Meanwhile Clement Jenifer was speed
ing GA to Londen to see his lawyer. He
found there was one condition which he
must fulfill before he could call himself
master of house AID income. Mr.. Daere
had only willed Waterdell Hall to him
under the proviso that he should pass
one night in the house entirely alone.
Mr.. Jenifer laughed when this elaRse
was read 80 him.
That's not very hard thing to do"
said he. "But was Mr.. Dacre's brain
softening when he made his Willis
'Not at ALL" answered the lawyer short
ly. ''Any one who saw Mr.. Dacre In his
last hours will tell you that the dear old
mans mind was as clear to the end as in
his best days. When you go to Water
dell you will not please your poor neigh
bors there If y0u suggest to them that the
man who was SO universally beloved and
reverel was crazy. L have 10 doubt this
letter, which he instructed me to deliver
to you personally, will explain the mat |
ter
This was, however, not the ease. The |
note was but short one, and gave no
reason for the testator's visa, except |
that he had inherited Water6eu Hall |
under the same stipulation that he had |
ever been thankful for having carried it |
out, and hoped that though his friend |
Clement Jenifer was older that he him
self had been when he came into the |
property ('ifor," he wrote with touch
of his ordinary humor, Il have been, like
Cnarl6S L., an ilCOuSOldDlS Illu6 d-Oy-
ing''), yet, that a solitary night passed in
his future home would prove as great
blessing to him as it had been to the
writer, and So without further explana-
ton, signed himself his affectionase friend /
Thomas Dacre.
That was all. Clement Jenife- never
liked being made ridiculous, and he
thought that this will went very near that
possibility. Yet he could not lose his in
heiitance for fear of Icing absurd. so,
after certain business instructions from
the lawyer, he went to the hotel for that
night, and next morning started for
Waterdell. He put up at little inn in
the nearest market town before proceed
ing to his destination, where, the LAWYER
bad informed him, he would find al
things in readiness to receive him for his
lonely vigil, if vigil it was to be. The inn
was full of farmers of the neighborhood.
come in to she market; and after much
discourse on grain and turnips, the con-
versation, Mr.. Jenifer fOund-he being,
of course, unknown-turned on the death
of Mr.. Dacre.